DISTRIBUTION AND FUNCTIONAL TRAIT VARIATION OF THE ENDEMIC TREE SPECIES LITSEA FLORIBUNDA ALONG AN ELEVATIONAL GRADIENT IN BRAHMAGIRI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, WESTERN GHATS

Abstract

The Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot and the water tower of Peninsular India, extends from the Tapi River in the north to Kanyakumari in the south, supporting diverse vegetation types, including tropical wet evergreen, montane (shola) forests, and deciduous forests. Tropical montane forests are among the most threatened ecosystems globally, harbouring high endemism with many species restricted to narrow elevation bands and vulnerable to climate change. Present study aim to focus on the tree species, Listea floribunda, endemic to western Ghats, india. With the objective of assessing its distribution and varied functional traits across elevation gradients  in the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Kodagu, central Western Ghats.

Majority of Litsea floribunda populations arrive between 41-120 cm girth classes. The species is frequently distributed in all the elevation ranges, the highest density was observed at
1400–1500m elevation, followed by 1200-1300m and 1300-1400m. A total of 381
mean density/ha were documented across three elevation ranges. The average basal area of a species covers 1.47 m²h^-1. The dominant companion tree species are Laural members such as Cinnamomum, Neolitsea and Cryptocarya sp.

The findings highlight the critical need for conserving these endemic tree species of montane shola forests to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem stability. The conservation of montane shola forest helps in achieving several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including life on land (SDG 15), climate action (SDG 13), and clean water and sanitation
(SDG 6). Protecting these ecosystems is essential for ensuring long-term ecological resilience and ecosystem services in the Western Ghats.